When Mandy Case recites her vows in March 2013, her bridesmaids will stand beside her in above-the-knee yellow and blue dresses with cowboy boots.
The 26-year-old elementary school teacher has booked a renovated dairy barn for the ceremony, so the rustic attire seemed fitting. Yellow and blue are the colors of Fort Mill High School, where Case and her fiance met.
Case isn't sure how many bridesmaids she'll have — her guess is three or four — but she wants them to have a say in what style of dress she chooses for them to wear. “I want my bridesmaids to look and feel confident,” she said Sunday at a bridal showcase at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden in Belmont, N.C.
After last spring's British royal wedding, the bridal industry was watching for a possible “Pippa Middleton effect” after Kate Middleton's sister turned heads in a show-stopper of a gown. Website fashionista.com declared Pippa's ivory satin-based crepe column dress with cowl neck and cap sleeves “the first bridesmaid dress that anyone ever wanted to knock off.” In response, bridal boutiques rush-ordered replica Pippa dresses.
But the replica dresses didn't sell. What store owners learned, they say, is that brides want to set their own trends on their big day. Individualism, a strong trend in the past few seasons, seems to trump the celebrity wedding effect.
While mom or grandma might have their own ideas about what is appropriate attire for bridesmaids, brides today don't worry much about adhering to rules.
“I joke and say ‘All the rules went out the window 10 years ago,'” says Anna Kelly, senior consultant for J Major's bridal boutique in Charlotte, N.C. “It used to be that you asked, ‘What time is the wedding?'” and that dictated the attire. “But it just doesn't matter anymore. People wear very simple, svelte skinny dresses in an enormous Catholic Mass, and fully beaded ball gowns on the beach.”
Oddly, a great example of the trend can be found — as you could have guessed — in a celebrity wedding. Last September the seven bridesmaids for model/actress Molly Sims donned what Sims called “cohesive yet mismatched” gowns by designer Elizabeth Kennedy in shades of tan and black. Each of the dresses was different — some with prints, some solids.
The bottom line is it's almost anything goes when it comes to bridal party fashion. Bridesmaids are no longer limited to the floor-length jewel-toned satin gowns with matching hairdos, shoes and jewelry of yesteryear.
“Brides are taking the reins over their own weddings and are not abiding by what tradition says they should be doing,” says Carrie Goldberg, assistant fashion editor for Martha Stewart Weddings magazine. “The one rule is that every bridesmaid should be in a dress that flatters them and that they like.”
And if that means bridesmaids aren't all in the same dress? That's just fine, Goldberg says.
“I think the idea of everyone wearing the same dress is on its way out,” she says. “There's more of a focus on working with a palate than working with the same color. Not every color flatters every girl in the bridal party.”
At the Bridal Boutique of North Carolina in Cary, manager Manu Gujral said the store stocked the Kate Middleton replica dress immediately after the wedding, but “nobody is even asking” for it, nor are they coming in with photos of Pippa's gown.
2012年2月29日星期三
2012年2月28日星期二
2012's runways showcase hourglass figures accentuated with flouncy overskirts
Last year, you couldn't walk two paces inside a boutique without stumbling into yet another boyfriend blazer. There were also suits with razor sharp tailoring and fedoras galore, as designers appeared to be dressing the career woman preparing to stand her own in the midst of an economic slump. The look was practical, androgynous and the epitome of boardroom chic.
But that was so 2011.
Yesterday's masculine lines have significantly softened, making way for today's dare-to-try trend: the peplum. The flouncy fabric, which is a tiny overskirt that flares out over the hips, was designed to create the illusion of a tiny waist. It soared in popularity throughout the 1930's and 1940's and re-emerged in the 1980's in all its shoulder-padded glory. This time, however, the little hip accent has shaken off its eighties-prom-dress vibe and given itself a contemporary makeover.
According to boutique owner Sara Platt, 26, the popularity of curvy celebrities such as Beyonce and Grammy winner Adele signals the return of the classic hourglass silhouette.
"Throughout the 1990's, we saw that typical six-foot, bean pole model with no curves," said Platt, who owns The Sweet Apricot Shop, a boutique based in Quincy, Illinois. "Last year was a big year for the minimalist look, and the peplum is a way to update that with just a little bit of a flare."
Although it appeared as a micro trend during the fall/winter 2011 collections, it's a look that appears to have especially blossomed for spring. Givenchy gave the peplum a futuristic spin with sculptural ruffles in summery white that gracefully cascaded along the hips. Meanwhile, Elie Saab's fire-engine red shift dress, which featured simple protruding panels along the waist, was a lesson in understated elegance.
The normally minimalist French label Céline recreated the peplum as a detachable deconstructed belt that can be worn over skirts or trousers. Pastels reigned at Louis Vuitton where the peplum appeared on a crocodile biker jacket in powder blue. Actress Emma Stone proved that color blocking is back when she stepped out in a red and fuchsia Giambattista Valli dress featuring a giant bow peplum.
But as with any trend, it's best approached with a great deal of restraint. "I love the new peplum tops," says Mia Fortuna, 42, a Chicago-based stylist. "When paired with just a pair of skinny cropped pants it's very 1950s and it's flattering on everyone." She also added that three-quarter sleeves help to add balance to the volume of the peplum at the hips.
And when it comes to patterns, Platt recommends non-contrasting palettes, such as singer Fergie's black and gray polka dot peplum dress by Marc Jacobs. "Stay away from geometric shapes, plaid or anything with a dizzying pattern," she warns. "That's too much and you'll loose the silhouette that the peplum creates."
But it's not just the couture pieces with their astronomical price tags that are gaining fans among the fashion pack. "Jason Wu actually did a gorgeous yellow peplum top for Target," says Fortuna. "I loved it because it was such an outright 1950's look."
Indeed, nostalgia appears to be the theme for the entire spring/summer 2012 collections. Without John Galliano's flamboyant touch to steer the house of Dior, questions arose about the future of the luxury brand. But under the guidance of its new designer Bill Gaytten, the label reworked and revamped the iconic bar jacket. The result was dreamy sheer suits and glamorous secretary looks that put the brand at the forefront of this season's trend.
It seems a fitting tribute since the Bar jacket was first created by Christian Dior himself. The peplum all but disappeared due to the fabric shortage during World War II in the early 1940's. Therefore, when Dior first showcased the bar jacket in 1947 with its cinched waist and dramatic peplum detail, Harper's Bazaar editor Carmel Snow instantly anointed the silhouette as the "New Look."
"With the New Look, Dior brings back the corset or the girdle to make the waist tight and small, which wasn't that important in the early 1940's during the war," said Nan Cibula-Jenkins, the head of costume design at The Theatre School at DePaul University. "With the New Look of the 1950's and beyond, Dior enhanced the narrow waist and the full female hips."
"I would say it's definitely up there with the Chanel jacket," said Mark Hall, 26, the costume mount and replica fabricator at the Chicago History Museum. "Dior's bar jacket is very distinctive and very individual."
Hall explained that the peplum is a design detail that was adapted from an ancient Grecian tunic called the ‘peplos.' "Women and a few men would wear these tunics that were belted at the waist to create several folds," he says. "The main idea behind the peplum design detail is to create the illusion of a smaller waist so it's simply a repeat of what fashion has been trying to create for centuries."
Cibula-Jenkins said it's no surprise the peplum is making a post-recession comeback. "Fashion seemed kind of utilitarian for a while, and now we're getting into more curves," she said. "I think it's because of the depressing economic environment right now. The economy is stagnant, businesses are folding and people are finding it hard to get jobs, so it's a time when we want to take our clothes and fantasize with them a little bit more."
She added that it's the human need for fantasy that brought about some of the most stunning clothes during the Great Depression in the 1930's. "People wanted to escape, they wanted to look at beautiful things," said Cibula-Jenkins. "I think there's a parallel in that [today]."
And judging from the enthusiastic adaptations of the peplum all over the runway, it seems that even the designers were in dire need of a little fantasy.
But that was so 2011.
Yesterday's masculine lines have significantly softened, making way for today's dare-to-try trend: the peplum. The flouncy fabric, which is a tiny overskirt that flares out over the hips, was designed to create the illusion of a tiny waist. It soared in popularity throughout the 1930's and 1940's and re-emerged in the 1980's in all its shoulder-padded glory. This time, however, the little hip accent has shaken off its eighties-prom-dress vibe and given itself a contemporary makeover.
According to boutique owner Sara Platt, 26, the popularity of curvy celebrities such as Beyonce and Grammy winner Adele signals the return of the classic hourglass silhouette.
"Throughout the 1990's, we saw that typical six-foot, bean pole model with no curves," said Platt, who owns The Sweet Apricot Shop, a boutique based in Quincy, Illinois. "Last year was a big year for the minimalist look, and the peplum is a way to update that with just a little bit of a flare."
Although it appeared as a micro trend during the fall/winter 2011 collections, it's a look that appears to have especially blossomed for spring. Givenchy gave the peplum a futuristic spin with sculptural ruffles in summery white that gracefully cascaded along the hips. Meanwhile, Elie Saab's fire-engine red shift dress, which featured simple protruding panels along the waist, was a lesson in understated elegance.
The normally minimalist French label Céline recreated the peplum as a detachable deconstructed belt that can be worn over skirts or trousers. Pastels reigned at Louis Vuitton where the peplum appeared on a crocodile biker jacket in powder blue. Actress Emma Stone proved that color blocking is back when she stepped out in a red and fuchsia Giambattista Valli dress featuring a giant bow peplum.
But as with any trend, it's best approached with a great deal of restraint. "I love the new peplum tops," says Mia Fortuna, 42, a Chicago-based stylist. "When paired with just a pair of skinny cropped pants it's very 1950s and it's flattering on everyone." She also added that three-quarter sleeves help to add balance to the volume of the peplum at the hips.
And when it comes to patterns, Platt recommends non-contrasting palettes, such as singer Fergie's black and gray polka dot peplum dress by Marc Jacobs. "Stay away from geometric shapes, plaid or anything with a dizzying pattern," she warns. "That's too much and you'll loose the silhouette that the peplum creates."
But it's not just the couture pieces with their astronomical price tags that are gaining fans among the fashion pack. "Jason Wu actually did a gorgeous yellow peplum top for Target," says Fortuna. "I loved it because it was such an outright 1950's look."
Indeed, nostalgia appears to be the theme for the entire spring/summer 2012 collections. Without John Galliano's flamboyant touch to steer the house of Dior, questions arose about the future of the luxury brand. But under the guidance of its new designer Bill Gaytten, the label reworked and revamped the iconic bar jacket. The result was dreamy sheer suits and glamorous secretary looks that put the brand at the forefront of this season's trend.
It seems a fitting tribute since the Bar jacket was first created by Christian Dior himself. The peplum all but disappeared due to the fabric shortage during World War II in the early 1940's. Therefore, when Dior first showcased the bar jacket in 1947 with its cinched waist and dramatic peplum detail, Harper's Bazaar editor Carmel Snow instantly anointed the silhouette as the "New Look."
"With the New Look, Dior brings back the corset or the girdle to make the waist tight and small, which wasn't that important in the early 1940's during the war," said Nan Cibula-Jenkins, the head of costume design at The Theatre School at DePaul University. "With the New Look of the 1950's and beyond, Dior enhanced the narrow waist and the full female hips."
"I would say it's definitely up there with the Chanel jacket," said Mark Hall, 26, the costume mount and replica fabricator at the Chicago History Museum. "Dior's bar jacket is very distinctive and very individual."
Hall explained that the peplum is a design detail that was adapted from an ancient Grecian tunic called the ‘peplos.' "Women and a few men would wear these tunics that were belted at the waist to create several folds," he says. "The main idea behind the peplum design detail is to create the illusion of a smaller waist so it's simply a repeat of what fashion has been trying to create for centuries."
Cibula-Jenkins said it's no surprise the peplum is making a post-recession comeback. "Fashion seemed kind of utilitarian for a while, and now we're getting into more curves," she said. "I think it's because of the depressing economic environment right now. The economy is stagnant, businesses are folding and people are finding it hard to get jobs, so it's a time when we want to take our clothes and fantasize with them a little bit more."
She added that it's the human need for fantasy that brought about some of the most stunning clothes during the Great Depression in the 1930's. "People wanted to escape, they wanted to look at beautiful things," said Cibula-Jenkins. "I think there's a parallel in that [today]."
And judging from the enthusiastic adaptations of the peplum all over the runway, it seems that even the designers were in dire need of a little fantasy.
2012年2月27日星期一
Nike Unleashes Lin Basketball Shoes
Nike Inc. (NYSE:NKE) became the latest company to bank on "Linsanity" this weekend when it unleashed a new shoe for the New York Knicks' Jeremy Lin during the NBA's All-Star break in Orlando, Fla.
Nike hopes to ride the popularity of Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin, the league's first Chinese-American player whose strong play over a short amount of starts lifted the listless Knicks to a winning streak and brought the former Harvard grad to the media forefront.
Lin's play even was credited with lifting the stock of Madison Square Garden (NASDAQ:MSG), which owns the Knicks and operates several television channels, to all-time highs during the streak.
Lin has been under contract with Nike since 2010, and he has one more year left on his deal. After that, he could be a play for Adidas (PINK:ADDYY), the world's second-largest sports apparel company, which recently announced plans for expansion in China. Adidas currently has about 6,700 retail locations in the country.
Nike hopes to ride the popularity of Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin, the league's first Chinese-American player whose strong play over a short amount of starts lifted the listless Knicks to a winning streak and brought the former Harvard grad to the media forefront.
Lin's play even was credited with lifting the stock of Madison Square Garden (NASDAQ:MSG), which owns the Knicks and operates several television channels, to all-time highs during the streak.
Lin has been under contract with Nike since 2010, and he has one more year left on his deal. After that, he could be a play for Adidas (PINK:ADDYY), the world's second-largest sports apparel company, which recently announced plans for expansion in China. Adidas currently has about 6,700 retail locations in the country.
2012年2月23日星期四
10% Off and a Toast for "Golden" Anniversary
In celebration of the Golden Gate Bridge's 75th Anniversary, Steven Leslie (check out his work at oneofacork.com), has been selected by San Francisco's de Young Museum to build a replica of the bridge entirely out of cork!
From Feb. 20th-26th, SHOES-n-FEET will give you 10% off your purchase when you bring your corks to our store to donate to Steven's work of art.
We will be serving complimentary wine on Sunday, February 26th, to say "thank you..." (and to add to the cause, of course).
From Feb. 20th-26th, SHOES-n-FEET will give you 10% off your purchase when you bring your corks to our store to donate to Steven's work of art.
We will be serving complimentary wine on Sunday, February 26th, to say "thank you..." (and to add to the cause, of course).
2012年2月22日星期三
Nike Foamposite Galaxy: $220 Glow-in-the-Dark Sneaker on Sale Friday
Nike is set to release its latest limited edition sneaker, the glow-in-the-dark Foamposite Galaxy, which will go on sale Friday at stores for $220.
Sneaker fans have been anticipating the release date of the Foamposite Galaxy, made of durable foamposite which ensures comfort in addition to resilience for the hefty price of $220. Inspired by space exploration, the galactic-themed sneakers are being released leading up to the 2012 NBA All-Star game in Orlando, Fla., home of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, for the first time in 20 years.
"Interior graphics pay homage to the phenomenon of the Supernova - arguably the most powerful force in the universe - while fonts and badging are featured within the collection as a nod to Orlando and space," Nike said in a press release.
The Foamposite Galaxy will come in three colors: green, flat gold and blue grey with a wax canvas upper inspired by astro training suits. In three models -- Nike Dunk, Nike Flight One and Nike Foamposite One - the Flight One will be in two colorways that glow-in-the-dark.
While sneakers have always been a niche for fanatics, the world simply cannot forget the latest release from Nike back in December, when riots and crime erupted upon the release of the Air Jordan XI Concord shoes. Reports immediately emerged as shopping malls were overcrowded and customers trampled over, multiple incidents of assault reported and police using pepper spray to subdue crowds looking to snag the limited release sneaker for $180. One man, in Jersey City, N.J. was even stabbed over the sneakers.
Nike began the Air Jordan fad, now estimated at a worth of $1 billion annually, in 1985 when a replica of the red, white and black high-top worn by Michael Jordan emerged and immediately became a hit. The Air Jordan Concords are a reissue of sneakers from 1996 that cost $180. Similarly, the Foamposite and the Flight One are reissues of shoes from the mid-to-late 90's.
And surprise, the limited release of the Foamposite Galaxy is panning out to be no different, though some stores are increasing security measures to ensure violence does not happen as it did in December, according to Rolling Out.
According to the New York Daily News, hopefuls from all over the nation have been camping out in front of Nike stores in New York City since Saturday leading up to the sale, as they are expected to sell out almost immediately. Some have been living in the freezing cold with rations of food and water, and others, like Andrew Poveda, have been skipping school.
"I'm missing out on tests," Poveda told the Daily News. "If I get my size I'm keeping them. If I don't, I'm going to sell them."
Sneaker fans have been anticipating the release date of the Foamposite Galaxy, made of durable foamposite which ensures comfort in addition to resilience for the hefty price of $220. Inspired by space exploration, the galactic-themed sneakers are being released leading up to the 2012 NBA All-Star game in Orlando, Fla., home of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, for the first time in 20 years.
"Interior graphics pay homage to the phenomenon of the Supernova - arguably the most powerful force in the universe - while fonts and badging are featured within the collection as a nod to Orlando and space," Nike said in a press release.
The Foamposite Galaxy will come in three colors: green, flat gold and blue grey with a wax canvas upper inspired by astro training suits. In three models -- Nike Dunk, Nike Flight One and Nike Foamposite One - the Flight One will be in two colorways that glow-in-the-dark.
While sneakers have always been a niche for fanatics, the world simply cannot forget the latest release from Nike back in December, when riots and crime erupted upon the release of the Air Jordan XI Concord shoes. Reports immediately emerged as shopping malls were overcrowded and customers trampled over, multiple incidents of assault reported and police using pepper spray to subdue crowds looking to snag the limited release sneaker for $180. One man, in Jersey City, N.J. was even stabbed over the sneakers.
Nike began the Air Jordan fad, now estimated at a worth of $1 billion annually, in 1985 when a replica of the red, white and black high-top worn by Michael Jordan emerged and immediately became a hit. The Air Jordan Concords are a reissue of sneakers from 1996 that cost $180. Similarly, the Foamposite and the Flight One are reissues of shoes from the mid-to-late 90's.
And surprise, the limited release of the Foamposite Galaxy is panning out to be no different, though some stores are increasing security measures to ensure violence does not happen as it did in December, according to Rolling Out.
According to the New York Daily News, hopefuls from all over the nation have been camping out in front of Nike stores in New York City since Saturday leading up to the sale, as they are expected to sell out almost immediately. Some have been living in the freezing cold with rations of food and water, and others, like Andrew Poveda, have been skipping school.
"I'm missing out on tests," Poveda told the Daily News. "If I get my size I'm keeping them. If I don't, I'm going to sell them."
2012年2月21日星期二
Do these shoes make me look pigeon-toed?
PUT your beast foot forward with this bizarre collection of footwear made from dead animals.
The weird range includes high heels made from horse hooves, stilettos made from snakes and sandals sculpted from doves.
German designer Iris Schieferstein claims she felt inspired to know "how it felt" to be an animal.
Artist Iris, 45, said: "I always wanted to know how the body of a horse worked and what they were feeling. The best way was to literally put myself in its shoes.
"People have worn the footwear, and I wear them around the house.
"Needless to say, they're not quite as comfortable as a pair of trainers.
"When I've got the dove shoes on that are made from real birds, I feel like I'm flying."
Iris has now branched out into footwear made from snakes, doves and hedgehogs.
Her controversial designs have even inspired a range from fashion firm Dolce & Gabanna.
Not for the faint-hearted, one pair of Iris's horse boots has cream horse fur with a zip at the front. The hoof is still intact and a BONE is used for the heel.
Another pair, made from a chestnut coloured steed, is the most 'animalistic' and has no heel but relies on the person wearing them to balance their weight on their toes.
The rearing dove shoes each have the stuffed birds - including feet - at the front and the wearer has to slide their toes between the bird's legs.
Iris said she begins by collecting the dead animals from her local butcher in Berlin, Germany, including dead horses, which are used for sausages in the country.
Iris then spends a week stripping out the meat and bones from the animal's feet. The skin is then sent to a tanner to be treated for preservation.
The sculptress then sets the skin - complete with fur still in place - around a shoe model before doing any needlework to add insoles and lining. The hoof is kept in place to act as a sole.
Each pair of shoes can take several months to complete. A similar process is used to make the snake and dove shoes. Sometimes the designer uses replica pistols for the heel to add extra support and style.
The footwear has been displayed at several exhibitions around the world and Iris insists they are for 'aesthetic pleasure'.
She added: "I enjoy wearing the shoes and making them. Taxidermy is one of my passions. Dolce & Gabanna created a range based on my designs but as yet no company has been willing to produce them for the high street.
"The dead animals used for the shoes are easy to come by. My local butcher uses a small percentage of horse meat in sausages.
"He then gives me the legs. Doves and snakes can also be acquired once they have died. I would use roadkill but this is illegal in Germany.
"People are intrigued by the shoes when they go on display. There's definitely something very eye-catching about them."
The weird range includes high heels made from horse hooves, stilettos made from snakes and sandals sculpted from doves.
German designer Iris Schieferstein claims she felt inspired to know "how it felt" to be an animal.
Artist Iris, 45, said: "I always wanted to know how the body of a horse worked and what they were feeling. The best way was to literally put myself in its shoes.
"People have worn the footwear, and I wear them around the house.
"Needless to say, they're not quite as comfortable as a pair of trainers.
"When I've got the dove shoes on that are made from real birds, I feel like I'm flying."
Iris has now branched out into footwear made from snakes, doves and hedgehogs.
Her controversial designs have even inspired a range from fashion firm Dolce & Gabanna.
Not for the faint-hearted, one pair of Iris's horse boots has cream horse fur with a zip at the front. The hoof is still intact and a BONE is used for the heel.
Another pair, made from a chestnut coloured steed, is the most 'animalistic' and has no heel but relies on the person wearing them to balance their weight on their toes.
The rearing dove shoes each have the stuffed birds - including feet - at the front and the wearer has to slide their toes between the bird's legs.
Iris said she begins by collecting the dead animals from her local butcher in Berlin, Germany, including dead horses, which are used for sausages in the country.
Iris then spends a week stripping out the meat and bones from the animal's feet. The skin is then sent to a tanner to be treated for preservation.
The sculptress then sets the skin - complete with fur still in place - around a shoe model before doing any needlework to add insoles and lining. The hoof is kept in place to act as a sole.
Each pair of shoes can take several months to complete. A similar process is used to make the snake and dove shoes. Sometimes the designer uses replica pistols for the heel to add extra support and style.
The footwear has been displayed at several exhibitions around the world and Iris insists they are for 'aesthetic pleasure'.
She added: "I enjoy wearing the shoes and making them. Taxidermy is one of my passions. Dolce & Gabanna created a range based on my designs but as yet no company has been willing to produce them for the high street.
"The dead animals used for the shoes are easy to come by. My local butcher uses a small percentage of horse meat in sausages.
"He then gives me the legs. Doves and snakes can also be acquired once they have died. I would use roadkill but this is illegal in Germany.
"People are intrigued by the shoes when they go on display. There's definitely something very eye-catching about them."
2012年2月20日星期一
Could Celtic really survive without Rangers?
There are several jokes doing the rounds at the moment about Rangers' troubling financial plight. "I'm a Celtic fan, but I just want to express my sadness about the boys in blue going into administration," goes one. "Such a great club, with such a proud history, such wonderful players and such fantastic supporters. All the best to everyone at Portsmouth Football Club."
Gallows humour has always played a part in the life of the long-suffering football fan, but there is something altogether different about the reaction that has been sparked in certain quarters by the turmoil affecting Rangers. The potential ￡75 million tax bill they face has raised the very real possibility that the Ibrox club could go out of existence, but rather than showing sympathy, supporters of their great rivals, Celtic, are revelling in it, and the club have even claimed that it would make no difference to them if the other half of the Old Firm was to disappear.
"The way we would look at it is, we don't need Rangers," said chief executive Peter Lawwell last week. "We have a strategy that we have embarked on that's independent of Rangers or any other club in Scotland."
It is fair to say that Celtic's history would look very different if Rangers had never existed. With only one team in Glasgow, the Bhoys would have dominated Scottish football to an unhealthy extent and fans of the game north of the border would have been deprived of some of the most evocative encounters in the history of British sport.
The 118,567 people who crammed into Ibrox to watch the Old Firm derby on the second day of 1939 would have had nowhere to go. Celtic's famous 7-1 annihilation of Rangers at Hampden Park in the 1957 Scottish League Cup final — Hampden in the Sun — would never have happened. With no great foes to sharpen their minds and keep them on their toes, it is even doubtful that Celtic would have emerged as a European force in the late 1960s.
If Rangers were to fold, another team could conceivably step into their shoes, but it seems unlikely. No other Scottish team can compete with the two clubs in terms of fanbase or international profile, and the television deals in place with Sky Sports and ESPN rely heavily on the cachet of the Old Firm rivalry. Scottish football has already begun to slip off the map in European competition in recent years. Rangers' demise would only expedite matters.
To suggest that Celtic could carry on regardless without their old rivals is like claiming that Othello would be the same play if Iago or Othello were abruptly scratched from the script. Both teams define themselves by their opposition to the other. It can, on occasion, spill over into repellent sectarianism, but the great rivalries — be it Ali and Frazier, Prost and Senna or Nadal and Federer — are what enable sport to transcend the perfunctory accumulation of points, wins and trophies that it might otherwise be. John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg played out one of tennis' great rivalries but after three years of fierce contests, the Swede retired in 1981 and McEnroe admitted that his career was never the same again.
The rich irony is that, with Rangers on the brink of oblivion, Celtic are enjoying a 15-match winning streak in the league that is their best run since the incredible 2003-04 season under Martin O'Neill. Sunday's 5-0 success at Hibernian took them 17 points clear of Rangers at the summit and the Scottish Premier League title now appears a formality.
The victory at Easter Road was celebrated against a backdrop of delirious schadenfreude, with fans unfurling a huge replica shirt bearing the letters 'HMRC' and unveiling a banner that read: 'We're having a party as Rangers die.' Given the deep enmity that exists between the clubs, it is no surprise to see one celebrating the misfortune of the other with such glee, but Celtic's supporters should pause to reflect that it can sometimes feel lonely at the top.
Gallows humour has always played a part in the life of the long-suffering football fan, but there is something altogether different about the reaction that has been sparked in certain quarters by the turmoil affecting Rangers. The potential ￡75 million tax bill they face has raised the very real possibility that the Ibrox club could go out of existence, but rather than showing sympathy, supporters of their great rivals, Celtic, are revelling in it, and the club have even claimed that it would make no difference to them if the other half of the Old Firm was to disappear.
"The way we would look at it is, we don't need Rangers," said chief executive Peter Lawwell last week. "We have a strategy that we have embarked on that's independent of Rangers or any other club in Scotland."
It is fair to say that Celtic's history would look very different if Rangers had never existed. With only one team in Glasgow, the Bhoys would have dominated Scottish football to an unhealthy extent and fans of the game north of the border would have been deprived of some of the most evocative encounters in the history of British sport.
The 118,567 people who crammed into Ibrox to watch the Old Firm derby on the second day of 1939 would have had nowhere to go. Celtic's famous 7-1 annihilation of Rangers at Hampden Park in the 1957 Scottish League Cup final — Hampden in the Sun — would never have happened. With no great foes to sharpen their minds and keep them on their toes, it is even doubtful that Celtic would have emerged as a European force in the late 1960s.
If Rangers were to fold, another team could conceivably step into their shoes, but it seems unlikely. No other Scottish team can compete with the two clubs in terms of fanbase or international profile, and the television deals in place with Sky Sports and ESPN rely heavily on the cachet of the Old Firm rivalry. Scottish football has already begun to slip off the map in European competition in recent years. Rangers' demise would only expedite matters.
To suggest that Celtic could carry on regardless without their old rivals is like claiming that Othello would be the same play if Iago or Othello were abruptly scratched from the script. Both teams define themselves by their opposition to the other. It can, on occasion, spill over into repellent sectarianism, but the great rivalries — be it Ali and Frazier, Prost and Senna or Nadal and Federer — are what enable sport to transcend the perfunctory accumulation of points, wins and trophies that it might otherwise be. John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg played out one of tennis' great rivalries but after three years of fierce contests, the Swede retired in 1981 and McEnroe admitted that his career was never the same again.
The rich irony is that, with Rangers on the brink of oblivion, Celtic are enjoying a 15-match winning streak in the league that is their best run since the incredible 2003-04 season under Martin O'Neill. Sunday's 5-0 success at Hibernian took them 17 points clear of Rangers at the summit and the Scottish Premier League title now appears a formality.
The victory at Easter Road was celebrated against a backdrop of delirious schadenfreude, with fans unfurling a huge replica shirt bearing the letters 'HMRC' and unveiling a banner that read: 'We're having a party as Rangers die.' Given the deep enmity that exists between the clubs, it is no surprise to see one celebrating the misfortune of the other with such glee, but Celtic's supporters should pause to reflect that it can sometimes feel lonely at the top.
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